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Tuolumne County, California

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
46th of 58highest risk in California
$51Mexpected losses a year
20federal declarations
1 in 1000homes with flood insurance
Photo: U.S. Geological Survey, public domain

Tuolumne County, California has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 85% of US counties. It ranks 46th of 58 counties in California. The costliest hazards here are wildfires, inland flooding and heat waves. FEMA estimates about $51 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $910 per resident. Since 1964 it has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (14 major disasters). The most recent was in July 2026 (Dove Fire). Only 36 homes here carry federal flood insurance. Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $309,000 on 20 claims here.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Tuolumne County

$27.3 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 80 years.
  • Clear dry plants and debris within 5 feet of the house.
  • Get home insurance quotes early; availability varies by area.
$18.6 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Heat wave

Moderate
$2.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Check that cooling works before summer.
  • Know where the nearest cooling center is.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
WildfireHigh99.3
$27M
Inland floodingModerate81.0
$19M
Heat waveModerate89.0
$3M
EarthquakeLow71.0
$769K
DroughtModerate74.1
$595K
LightningModerate73.5
$501K
Strong windVery Low14.1
$104K
Winter weatherModerate64.4
$95K
LandslideModerate91.2
$59K
TornadoVery Low7.9
$38K
HailVery Low10.3
$29K
AvalancheVery Low58.9
$1K
Volcanic activityVery Low61.6
$39

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively moderate and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Tuolumne County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood7
Severe Storm6
Fire5
Drought1
Hurricane1

Most recent

Jul 26, 2026Dove FireFire management
Apr 3, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 10, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
Jan 14, 2023Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 22, 2020WildfiresMajor disaster
May 17, 2019Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Apr 1, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Mar 16, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2017Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Dec 13, 2013Rim FireMajor disaster
Show all 20
Aug 23, 2013Rim FireFire management
Jun 5, 2006Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 13, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Ca-Wildfires-08/25/1999Emergency
Jan 4, 1997Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and LandslidesMajor disaster
Mar 12, 1995Severe Winter Storms, Flooding Landslides, Mud FlowMajor disaster
Feb 21, 1986Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jan 20, 1977DroughtEmergency
Jan 26, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Dec 24, 1964Heavy Rains & FloodingMajor disaster

California also had 35 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1996

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 65 storm reports in Tuolumne County since 1996, with 2 deaths and 0 injuries and about $94.3 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF1 tornado on March 11, 2023 near Chinese.

1tornadoes
6hail reports, largest 1.25 inches
8damaging thunderstorm winds
24floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
Mar 11, 2023EF1Chinese0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Mar 22, 2018Flash FloodMoccasin$43M
Mar 4, 2023FloodHetch Hetchy Jct$42M
Mar 21, 2018FloodGroveland Parsons Ar$8M
Mar 21, 2017Thunderstorm WindTwain Harte$1M
Mar 6, 2014Debris FlowOakland Rec Camp$50K
Jan 19, 2016Thunderstorm WindStanislaus$50K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Mar 13, 2023. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Tuolumne County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.1%of homes have federal flood insurance (36 policies)
24.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$308,820paid on 20 flood claims since 1978
2018costliest year, with $100,400 paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Tuolumne County

$433,200median home value (California $734,700, US $332,700)
1980median year homes were built (California 1976, US 1980)
50%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
8.4%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 31,589 housing units.

Compare in California

All 58 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Los Angeles CountyVery HighEarthquake
San Diego CountyVery HighInland flooding
Orange CountyVery HighEarthquake
Riverside CountyVery HighInland flooding
San Bernardino CountyVery HighInland flooding
Santa Clara CountyVery HighEarthquake
Alameda CountyVery HighEarthquake
Sacramento CountyHighInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Stanislaus CountyHigh18
Madera CountyHigh23
Calaveras CountyModerate22
Mariposa CountyModerate22
Mono CountyLow12
Alpine CountyVery Low13

Common questions about Tuolumne County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Tuolumne County?

Wildfire has the highest expected yearly losses in Tuolumne County, about $27.3 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $18.6 million.

How many federal disasters has Tuolumne County had?

Tuolumne County has been included in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1964, including 14 major disasters. The most recent was Dove Fire in July 2026.

Is Tuolumne County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 46th highest of 58 in California. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Tuolumne County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 1000 homes in Tuolumne County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Tuolumne County had?

NOAA records list 1 tornadoes in Tuolumne County since 1950. The strongest was an EF1 tornado on March 11, 2023 near Chinese. The weather service has also logged 6 hail reports and 24 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.